Jimmy McGovern ventures into challenging territory once again with his new BBC drama Unforgivable.
The Liverpudlian writer, famed for Cracker, Accused and Hillsborough, has chosen to tackle the thorny topic of child abuse and the damage it causes to families in his new film for television.
Discussing his reason for choosing this issue, he said: “I received a letter from a woman who works with sex offenders and wanted to speak to me.
“She spoke no holds barred about her job and working with sex abusers.
“She told me certain facts and figures that are quite unbelievable, so I want people to watch the film and learn things about child abuse.
“I felt compelled to write about it.”
The feature film-length drama will air on BBC Two tomorrow at 9pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
What is Unforgivable about?
Unforgivable focuses on the Mitchell family who are dealing with the aftermath of an act of abuse perpetrated by a member of their own family.
Having served his prison sentence, Joe Mitchell (Bobby Schofield) arrives at St Maura’s, an institution which offers him a home and rehabilitation after his release.
With the support of ex-nun Katherine (Anna Maxwell Martin), Joe undertakes therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse.
At the same time, his sister Anna (Anna Friel) is dealing with the impact Joe’s crime has had on her family – her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Finn McParland), and her father, Brian (David Threlfall).
The drama examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved try to move forwards in the wake of such trauma.
Who is in the cast of Unforgivable?
Anna Friel
Anna Friel stars as Anna, mother to Tom and sister to Joe Mitchell.
Friel, 49, rose to fame playing Beth Jordache in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.
She has starred in films such as The Land Girls, Rogue Trader, The Look of Love and Charming the Hearts of Men.
On television, she is known for her roles in Our Mutual Friend, Pushing Daisies, Marcella, Broken and Monarch.
Bobby Schofield
Bobby Schofield plays Joe Mitchell, just released from prison after serving a sentence for child abuse.
The Liverpudlian actor, 32, will be familiar to television audiences as Dave Kershaw in Rogue Heroes. He has also recently starred in This City is Ours.
He played Parsifal in Knightfall and Bobby Moran in The Suspect.
Anna Maxwell Martin
Anna Maxwell Martin is a former nun turned counsellor Katherine, who runs a rehabilitation centre.
The Bafta Award-winning British actress, 48, has starred in films such as Becoming Jane, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Philomena and The Duke.
Her television roles have included N in Poppy Shakespeare and Esther Summerson in Bleak House, for which she won Baftas, and more recently Julia Johnstone in Motherland and Lucy Betts-Taylor in Ludwig.
David Threlfall
David Threlfall appears as Brian, patriarch of the Mitchell family and recent widower.
The Manchester-born actor, 71, starred as Frank Gallagher in the long-running Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless.
He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in the 1980 stage version of Nicholas Nickleby.
On film, he has appeared in Patriot Games, Hot Fuzz and Nowhere Boy while his television roles have included Leslie Titmuss in Paradise Postponed, William Last in Housewife, 49 and Tommy Cooper in Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This.
The cast of Unforgivable includes:
- Austin Haynes as Tom (The Power of Parker, Adolescence)
- Finn McParland as Peter
- Mark Womack as Paul Patterson (Emmerdale Farm, The Responder)
- Ryan McKen as Richard Harding (Bancroft, Temple)
- Phina Oruche as Jodie Taylor (Footballers’ Wives, Hollyoaks)
- Paddy Rowan as Sammy (G’wed, The Bay)
Where was Unforgivable filmed?
Unforgivable is set and filmed in Liverpool, hometown of McGovern.
Speaking about the city and its connection with writers and drama, he said: “The crucial thing for me is that Liverpool’s a port city, and that’s the ingredient of scouserism in a way, the curiosity about the traveller that comes from being born and brought up in a big international port.
“Where are you coming from? Where are you going to?
“There are writers from all over the world, I know, but there are many from Liverpool, and I think that curiosity about people lends itself to becoming a dramatist.”
Filming of the family home scenes for the Mitchells took place in Hanford Avenue in the Orrell Park area of Liverpool.
While the riverside walk of Otterspool Promenade in the Aigburth and Grassendale areas of Liverpool was used to show characters in quiet moments or during conversations in open settings.
Talking about filming in the city, Friel said: “I absolutely love Liverpool.
“I’m a huge fan of Liverpool and Liverpudlians.
“I have such fond memories and I’d love to work in Liverpool again, I adore it.
“Every time I reunite with Jimmy, I reunite with Liverpool and it’s an honour.”
